Article holding and dispensing device



Nov. 3, 1959 c. F. HOOFER ARTICLE HOLDING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Aug. 28, 1957 a O z a a.

ATTD RN EYS 2,911,104 ARTICLE HOLDING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Charles Frederick Hoofer, Chicago, Ill. Application August 28, 1957, Serial No. 680,742 1 Claim. (Cl. 211-54) This invention relates to a device for use in holding and dispensing articles such as sheets or strips of material.

The object of the invention is to provide a device which is adapted to be releasably fastened to retaining strips such as retaining strips which are connected to shelves in stores or the like, whereby a plurality of cards, sheets or the like can be releasably supported and dispensed from the device as desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article holding and dispensing device which is an improvement over the article holding and dispensing device shown and described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 618,- 297, filedOctober 25, 1956.

' A still further object of the invention is to provide a device which is adapted to be releasably connected to retaining strips such as retaining strips which are connected to shelves in stores for holding price cards or numerals, and wherein the device of the present invention can be used for holding pieces of literature or sheets of material which are available to the consumer or purchaser, and wherein the article holding device .of the present invention can be readily moved from place to place as desired or disconnected from the retaining strip when it is not needed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an article holding and dispensing device which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view illustrating the article holding and dispensing device of the present invention showing the device attached to a retaining strip.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing a modification.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 1. g I

Figure 5 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and in section, showing certain constructional details of the device of Figure 2. I

Figure 6 is a front elevational view illustrating the plate that forms part of the device of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 2.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a retaining strip which includes a main portion 11 and spaced apart longitudinally extending upper and lower flanges 12 and 13, Figures 1 and 7. The retaining strip 10 is adapted to be secured to a shelf such as the shelf 22 which may be part of a store fixture, and the retaining strip 10 may be of the type which is adapted to be used for holding cards having prices thereon.

The present invention is directed to a device 23 which is adapted to hold and dispense a plurality of sheets, cards or other material as for example when advertising United States Patent 0 2,911,104 Patented Nov. 3, I959 ICE circulars are to be made available to consumers or purchasers in a store. The device 23 includes a plate 14 which is provided with an upper enlarged section 15 and a lower section 16 of reduced size. The upper section 15 of the plate 14 is provided with a cut-out 17, and extending outwardly from the upper section 15 is a pair of struck-out portions 18 whichare adapted to provide a support for an article such as a card 19 which may have display or advertising matter thereon.

There is further provided a clamp which is indicated generally by the numeral 20, and the clamp 20 is adapted to be used for releasably connecting the device 23 to the retaining strip 10. The clamp 20 includes a lower lip 21 which is secured to the lower section 16 of the plate 15 by suitable securing elements 25. The clamp 20 further includes spaced apart jaws 26 and 27 which are adapted to frictionally or releasably engage the lower portion of the retaining strip 10 whereby the device can be releasably supported in the position shown in Figures 1 and 7 for example.

The device 23 further includes a pair of coil sections 28 which are arranged in spaced apart relation with respect to each other, and the coil sections 28 each have portions 29 which extend through the cut-out 17 in the plate 14, and these portions 29 are secured to the rear surface of the plate 14 by means of struckout portions 30. Also extending from the coil sections 28 are portions 31 which terminate in angularly arranged portions 32, and the portions 32 terminate in inclined portions or sections 33 which have their ends defining bearing surfaces 34. The bearing surfaces 34 are adapted to coact with the lower section 16 of the plate 14 to releasably grip or hold articles such as sheets or cards 35 therebetween. Extending outwardly from the bearing surfaces 34 are-inclined sections 36 which are interconnected together by a web 37, and the web 37 and sections 36 coact to define a hand gripping portion whereby the hearing surfaces 34 can be moved away from the section 16 of the plate 14, as for example when the supply of sheets 35 is to be replaced or replenished. A pointed prong 38 extends outwardly from the plate 14, and the prong 38 is adapted to project through the upper ends of the sheets 35 so as to help retain the sheets 35 in.their proper position. However, when suflicient manualpres sure is placed on one of the sheets 35, such sheet can be readily torn from the prong 38 and removed from between the bearing surfaces 34 and the plate 14.

Referring to'Figures 2, 5, 6, 8, of the drawings, there is shown a modified or alternative article holding and dispensing device which is indicated generally by the numeral 39, and the device 39 can also be releasably connected to a price retaining strip such as the strip 40. The device 39 includes a plate 44, Figure 6. The price retaining strip 40 includes a main portion 41 and upper and lower longitudinally extending flanges 42 and 43. The plate 44 includes an upper enlarged section 45 and a lower section 46 of reduced size, and there is provided on the upper edge of the plate 44 an inclined or offset portion 47 which is adapted to engage beneath the flange 42 as shown in Figure 8 for example. The upper section 45 of plate 44 is provided with struck-out portions 48 whereby a card or sheet such as the card 19 can be supported conveniently therein, and such a card may have advertising or display material thereon. The plate 44 is further provided with a cut-out 49, Figure 6, and the cutout 49 includes an enlarged upper portion 50 and a smaller lower portion 51, for a purpose to be later described.

Arranged contiguous to the outer surface of the plate 44 is a base 52, and a screw member 53 extends from the base 52 and projects through the cut-out 49. A knurled knob or nut 54 is arranged in threaded engage- 1' 3 ment with the screw member 53, so that by loosening the knob 54 the base 52 can be adjusted or shifted with respect to the plate 44, and after the base 52 has been moved to the proper location, the knob 54 can again be tightened on the screw member 53.

. The numeral 56 indicates. each of apair of coil sections which. have substantially the same construction as the previously described coil sections 28. The coil sections 56 have portions 57 which are secured beneath lips. or flanges 55 on the-base 52. Other portions 58 extend from the coil sections 56, and the portions 58 terminate in inclined portions 59 which terminate in bearing surfaces 60, and the bearing surfaces 60 serve the same purpose as the previously described bearing surfaces 34. Inclined portions 61 extend outwardly from the bearing surfaces 60 and the inclined sections 61 are interconnected together by means of a web 62. Theportions 62 and 61 are adapted to define a hand gripping portion whereby the bearing surfaces 60 can be moved away from the base 52,, as when. additional articles or sheets such as the sheets 35 are to be inserted into the space between the bearing surfaces 60 and the base 52. A pointed prong 63 extends outwardly from the base 52, and the prong 63 is adapted to project through sheets such as the sheets 35 so as to help: retain such sheets or articles in their proper position. When suflicient pressure is applied to such sheets, the holding effect of the prong 63 can be overcome whereby such articles or sheets can be readily torn off or removed from the device, and such sheets may have any suitable printed matter or descriptive matter thereon as desired. As shown in the drawings, a lip 64 or offset portion 64 is arranged on the upper end of the base 52, and

the lip 64 isadapted to engage the lower flange 43 on the retaining strip 40.

"From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided an article holding and dispensing device which is an improvement over the holding and dispensing device-shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 618,- 297. When using the device shownin Figures 1, 3, 4 and 7, it is to be noted that the retaining strip 10 is adapted to be secured to the shelf 22, and the shelf 22 may be located in a store for holding goods being displayed or The retaining strip 10 is of lower portion 13 of the strip 10. Thus, the device 23' can be readily slipped onto or slipped off of the strip 10, as desired. When the device 23 is being used, a plurality ofsheets such as the sheets 35 are adapted to be frictionally held or gripped between the bearing portions 34 and the plate 14, and due to the inherent resiliency of the spring sections 28', it will be seen that the bearing surfaces 34 will be normally urged into a position which engages the sheets 35 and maintains the sheets 35 clamped between the bearing portions 34 and plate 14. The prong 38 which extends through the plate 14 is adapted to pierce the upper ends of the sheets 35 so as to provide a further gripping or holding means for the sheets 35. When one of the sheets 35 is to be removed, the user can merely grip such sheet or card 35 and pull on the same and by applying a slight pressure, the holding elfect of the hearing surfaces 34. will be overcome, and at the same time the sheet can be torn from the prong 38 whereby the sheet can. be kept or retained by the customer or other person in the store. The struck-out portions 18 provide a support for a card such as the card 19, and the card 19 may also i have advertising matter or display material thereon. When additional sheets 35 are to be inserted in the device, the user can merely grip the portions 36 and 37 so as to move the bearing surfaces 34 away from the plate 14 whereby additional sheets 35 can be inserted in place, and when pressure on the gripping portions is released, the bearing surfaces 34 will return to the position shownin Figure 7 for example so as to retain thesheets 35 in their proper position.

The device 39 shown in Figures 2, 5, 6, 8 and 9, is adapted to be used in substantially the same manner as the previously describeddevice 23. Thus, the device 39 is adapted to be connected to a retaining strip such as the retaining strip 40 by means of the offset portion 47 on the upper end of the plate 44 which engages underneath the flange 42 on the strip 40. The lower flange 43 is' engaged by the offset portion 64 on the upper endof the adjustable base 52 so that by loosening the knob 54, the base 52 can be adjusted in order to bring the portion 64 into engagement with the lower flange 43 whereby the device 39 is maintained immobile in its desired position on the pricing strip '40. Sheets such as the sheets 35 are adapted to be frictionally held between the'bearing surfaces 60 and the base 52, and these sheets are also adapted to be pierced by the pointed prong 63, and such sheets can be removed in the same manner as pre viously described. The coil sections 56 have their rear ends secured to the struck-out portions or flanges 55 as previously described, and the tabs or struck-out portions 48 can be used for supporting a display card or sheet such as the. card 19.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes.

' Both forms of the device of the present invention can be readily attached to shelves in stores when such shelves are equipped with price mark retaining strips such as the strips 10 or 40. Either form of the device can be used as desired, and different types or forms of cards or sheets can be conveniently supported.

I claim:

In an article holding and dispensing device, a plate including a lower section and an upper section, a pair of spaced apart struck-out portions extending outwardly from said upper section for supporting articles, a clamp including a lower lip secured to the lower section of said plate and said clamp further including a pair of spaced apart jaws, there being a cut-out in the upper section of said plate, a spring member including a pair of spaced parallel coil sections,'portions of saidcoil sections extending through said cut-out and being secured to the rear.

surface of said plate, said coil sections further including other portions which terminate in angularly arranged portions, said angularly arranged portions terminating in inclined portions, and said inclined portions terminating in bearing. portions for coacting with the lower section of the plate to grip articles therebetween, other inclined portions extending from said bearing portions, and a;

web extending betweensaid last named inclined portions and coacting therewith to define a hand gripping portion,

' and a pointed prong extending outwardly from said plate for engagement with articles being gripped between the bearing portions and plate. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

